Thursday, May 17, 2012

Three Ways to Stay Active in Your Community by Lina Sinha

If you are wanting to stay an active member of your community, but are not sure how, consider these three ways.


  1. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your local community and get to know other members of the community you might not have otherwise. By volunteering, you are making a positive impact in your community, often times in the individual lives of the less fortunate. Whether you volunteer by spending an afternoon dishing out soup at your local soup kitchen, or volunteer to organize a 5k to raise awareness for a disease, you are helping others and staying active.
  2. Participate in events. If you are looking to truly get involved in your community, there is no greater way than by participating in events hosted by your city or town. New York City, specifically, has thousands of events geared towards all people of all ages and interests. For example, I ran the New York Half Marathon in honor of my aunt. There are tons of road races to choose from, or other events like plays and concerts in the park, parades, yoga and much more.
  3. Get to know your neighbors. If you want to know what is going on in your community, befriending your neighbor is a great way to start. Even in a city with millions of people, like New York City, you’d be surprised how many things you and your next-door neighbor can have in common. Staying active in your community means investing time into the lives of others in the community. Start with your neighbor today.


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Five Tips for Training for a Half Marathon by Lina Sinha

Half marathon runner Lina Sinha recently completed the NYC Half Marathon with the NY Road Runners Club. She suggests you follow these five guidelines if you are considering training for a half marathon.


  1. Train for someone or something. My inspiration for running was completing the training and race in loving memory of my aunt. If you commit to complete the race to honor somebody, you are more likely to keep running even when it gets very difficult. Running in memory of somebody is a great way to use your race to bring attention to that person, and it’s also inspiring to complete such a grueling race in honor of somebody else.
  2. Make sure you have accountability. Tell your friends and family members that you plan to run a half marathon. Make sure they are willing to ask you how the training is going and keep you accountable to training properly and showing up the day of the race. Usually, accountability during your training means you will be less likely to quit when training picks up—and you’ll likely have a bigger fan club on race day!
  3. Get proper gear. Make sure you get tested for how you run and what your stride looks like so you have the appropriate shoes. Running does not take a lot of gear, which makes the pair of shoes you use even more significant. If your shoes are slightly wrong for your foot and stride type, you will likely feel it in your legs. Wrong shoes can even lead to severe injuries or prolonged injuries that are hard to heal without stopping running.
  4. Fuel your body. Remember, when you are a runner, the food and drinks you consume are what fuel your run. If you are drinking too much alcohol, or not enough water, you will feel it in your training and on race day. If you are not getting enough carbohydrates or if you are eating too much saturated fat, your body might feel sluggish during long runs. Make sure you are getting plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system running properly, and consume whole grains for long-lasting energy. Always drink plenty of water!
  5. Have fun. Make sure that you are having run during your training and on race day. Whether it’s more fun to run with a friend, or in a certain place, try to make a few runs per week enjoyable so it’s not gruesome to complete a simple training plan. On race day, smile, let go and have fun because you’ve trained hard and deserve to have a strong race!